Hope: Our Womb of Legacy

How can I not love a sermon that has the words hope, womb, and legacy in the title? I knew this was going to be a powerful message by Bill Johnson just by reading the title (and for the same fact that ALL his messages are powerful).

There is a huge difference between the hope of this world or ‘cultural’ hope and biblical hope. So many people put their hope in this world only to be disappointed. The term hope is used to them as an ‘I wish for something to happen’…… Someone might wish for a spouse, a win from their favorite football team, a free vacation, no traffic during their commute, etc.

Biblical hope is totally different. Biblical hope is the joyful anticipation of something good. It’s a hope that has you at the edge of your seat waiting for what you are hoping for. You know what is coming your way and for that reason you can hope expectantly. Biblical hope creates an atmosphere that your faith grows in and it attracts the promises of God.

I recently decided to read Romans 4 every day. It’s brought so many new revelations and I have been loving the message version, “Abraham was first named ‘’father’’ and then became a father because he dared to trust God to do what only God could do: raise the dead to life, with a word make something out of nothing. When everything was hopeless, Abraham believed anyway, deciding not to live not on the basis of what he saw he couldn’t do but on what God said he would do.” – Romans 4:17-18

If that verse doesn’t stop you in your tracks, I encourage you to read it and reflect it on it again. Read verses 17-25 and let it penetrate your heart like it has mine. Verse 24 says, “Abraham plunged into the promise and came up strong, ready for God, sure that God would make good on what he has said.” The same thing gets said about us when we embrace and believe the One who brought Jesus to life when the conditions were equally hopeless.

When everything was hopeless, Abraham believed anyway.The Lord wants more Abraham’s. He wants you and I to believe that what He says, He will do. He calls us to hope against hopelessness and trust that He can make something out of nothing.

Isn’t it incredible to think about all the years that Abraham waited and the legacy that came from Him (including you and me) because of the hope he had in the Lord? This isn’t just about initial breakthrough for babies (or whatever you are hoping for), but for a lifetime legacy that will follow.

Just like Abraham, your legacy is birthed out of hope. Hope creates the atmosphere of legacy. Hebrews 6:12 says that, “abiding faith attracts the promise of faith”. Remember, we are talking about divine hope. Natural hope can’t be kept alive – it’s relying on the world, but when we hold onto the word of God – we have a well of hope. When we put our hope in Christ, an atmosphere of overcoming the impossible is released.

Hopelessness must die. Let hope rise up and allow the Lord to create a legacy from your story of hope.

13 Comments

Awesome Caroline!!!! Waiting expectantly with hope xxx
You know something really cool though – not 2 days ago Dan and I lay in bed silently reading this exact verse from YouBible together. Every night I usually try and read a passage or two but that night Dan leaned over and starting reading – the hope of Abraham!
Thank you for the message lovely lady!!!

Thank you! Hope is something I have, although it’s not always as strong as it should be. There are days that I think about all the pros of being child free as a coping mechanism instead of having complete faith that God WILL provide us with children in one way or another. Constant work in progress!

Whenever I think of hope (and I think about it all of the time), the two Psalms that hold these words come to mind: “Why are you downcast, O my soul? Hope in God!….” and I repeat those words to myself so very often that “Set your hope in God” has become my motto!

Our hope is in Him and He will never disappoint, for He is our greatest treasure and walking with Him is our reward!

So as soon as I saw it was Romans 4, it reminded me of a sermon series by Chuck Swindoll. It really made me think about faith and works and how we can’t earn his promises by simply working for it – it’s above and beyond the laws and “fleshly” man-made ways of life. Although we are man and will struggle with doubt and fear, as we learn to trust God with each step it is credited to us as “righteousness” NOT judgment, punishment or disqualification – God looks past our weaknesses and inabilities to accomplish His promises and “credits it as righteousness!” Another sermon that’s hard to explain but still has me thinking about the basics of “debits” and “credits” – something you could probably relate to throughout your everyday life I’m sure!!! I had a completely new revelation of this chapter when I read it last night and will continue to read it the next few days with the new points you brought up! For me, this is one of those chapters that really makes me think so I like to see other people’s viewpoints on it since I haven’t quite grasped the message in its entirety. LOL

This is so good! Yes, Abraham hoped when there was no reason for hope and he was counted righteous because of it, which Romans says is for us so that we can be counted righteous for having the same kind of faith! So thankful that we have examples like that to look to. And thank God we have a hope that’s grounded in the word. Great post!

My youngest daughter is named Hope. Even though I wasn’t Christian at the time, we went into the maternity ward with 2 girl names in mind… Joy and Hope. My labour turned into a medical emergency for her and even though I wasn’t Christian at the time I prayed for her in Jesus’ name. When she came out and I heard her first cry, I knew she had to be Hope. She was what I hoped for… a healthy baby.

Thank you once again for your words. Romans 4 is powerful. I am going to meditate on it a bit more. Thank you for pointing out how powerful Biblical hope is.